In lieu of the widespread disturbances caused by recurring floods, the State Irrigation Department of Haryana has been instructed to prepare schemes on priority basis for flood prevention.

Chandigarh: In view of the extensive damage caused to life and property by floods due to incessant rains, the Haryana government has sanctioned 72 flood protection projects costing Rs 53.59 crore during the current financial year.

Apart from this, work on 77 flood protection projects, costing Rs 468.51 crore, has been initiated on a war footing.

The government has directed the Irrigation Department to prepare such type of schemes on priority basis which serve optimum purpose in protecting flood.

The uncontrolled water to the extent of about 6,000 to 7000 cusecs, which entered from Punjab into SYL Canal, has caused a breach in the SYL Canal.

“The department will look into the possibility to set up a regulator in Ambala district after taking consent from the Punjab government to regulate the flood water. Besides, we have urged the Finance Minister Ajay Singh Yadav to release a sum of Rs 25 crore, which has been pending for long, to the department for flood protection works in the state,” Irrigation Engineer-in-Chief Harmail Singh said.

The first casualty of the incessant rain has been the drainage system. Many areas have been inundated due to choked drains. Therefore, the government has directed the Public Health Engineering Department to ensure the cleaning of sewerage in the cities by cleaning machines. The Haryana Urban Development Authority has been asked to purchase at least 10 sewerage cleaning machines.

“We will release more funds to the Public Health and Engineering Department for the purpose. Engineer-in-Chief AK Khetrapal has sought more than the sanctioned sum of Rs seven crore. He has been asked to send a detailed proposal in this regard so that funds could be arranged for the department at the earliest,” Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary(Finance) Ajit M Sharan said.

Due to heavy rains, the Ghaggar, Tangri and Markanda rivers of the state are in spate. Many low lying areas of Ambala and Kurukshetra have been submerged, pressing a panic button in various government circles to tackle the floods and preventing their recurrence